How to Travel Like the King of Saudi Arabia

When you're the King of Saudi Arabia, you can afford to overpack. King Salman bin Abdul Aziz traveled to Indonesia last week, and according to the Washington Post, he brought 506 tons of luggage with him. Before you whip out your calculator, Conde Nast Traveler already did the math. His cargo is roughly the same weight as "240 elephants or 300 cars."

Talk about oversized baggage.

Among the freight for the King's first visit to the country in more than 40 years were two Mercedes-Benz S600 limousines and two electric elevators. His bags weren't the only big thing about the trip. In addition to the royal's personal entourage of nearly 1,500 people—a group that includes 10 ministers, 25 princes and at least 100 security personnel—572 workers were employed to deal with the king's travel possessions, reports the Post.

This is hardly the first time Salman has traveled in extravagant fashion. When visiting Washington, D.C. in 2015, he rented out the entire Four Seasons hotel. That same year, he was also accused of pouring concrete on the sand in the French Riviera in hopes of installing an elevator specifically for his visit. A taste for over-the-top travel clearly runs in the Saudi royal family. In January, we reported on a plane full of falcons, all of which reportedly belonged to a Saudi Prince.

After Indonesia, King Salman plans to continue his month-long journey to Japan, China, the Maldives, and Jordan. No word yet as to whether all of the luggage will go with him.